597 Prospect Avenue, Bronx, NY 10455

The 5-unit, 4-story old law tenement at 597 Prospect Avenue in Longwood, built in 1910 and owned by Morris Wertzberger, has experienced significant recent maintenance challenges throughout 2024 and into 2025. The building had multiple emergency situations in September 2024, including issues with cooking gas, heat/hot water (affecting the entire building), and three instances of power outages, some requiring immediate attention. These followed similar patterns of disturbances noted in March 2024, suggesting recurring infrastructure problems.

Currently, there are open Class C violations as of September 2024 affecting apartment 2, including inadequate electric service, lack of hot water, and insufficient gas supply to kitchen fixtures. The building has also faced rodent control issues, with inspections showing rat activity in 2024-2025, despite multiple bait applications. Historical records reveal ongoing access issues for inspectors attempting to address complaints, including an October 2024 cooking gas complaint and previous complaints regarding the boiler and sidewalk shed. Prior environmental violations from 2022 suggest that there was unauthorized occupancy creating an illegal SRO situation with dual fire escapes, though this appears to have been resolved.

The building's maintenance history shows a significant focus on addressing rodent infestations, with multiple bait applications throughout 2024 and 2025, and an active violation as of November 2024 concerning rat activity at the stoop area. The inspection records indicate multiple failed inspection attempts, particularly for heating and hot water systems, where access was not granted during inspections. While some issues have received prompt attention, the recurring nature of electrical outages and heating/hot water problems suggests ongoing infrastructure challenges. The building, which has been receiving pest control interventions regularly, continues to struggle with maintaining basic utilities and access compliance, as evidenced by current open violations as of 2024.